How to spend 2 weeks in Cambodia

One of the most popular destinations for Western travellers before Covid-19, Cambodia is quickly getting back to the level of tourists it once had. Having travelled to Cambodia ourselves in 2022, we thought we’d share our The Perfect Two Week Itinerary for Cambodia; so you know where to visit and for how long.

If you are lucky enough to spend a full month in Cambodia, we also have an itinerary for a perfect month in Cambodia.

Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.

Is Cambodia open for travel?

The short answer is yes.

At the time of writing (April 2022), Cambodia is open for tourism and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.

If you’re fully vaccinated, you only need to present your proof of vaccination to enter Cambodia. However, if you’re not fully vaccinated you must quarantine for 14 days at a hotel arranged by the Cambodian government OR at a pre-booked hotel of your choice. You can find further information at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia/entry-requirements

Getting a Cambodian Visa

There are two ways of getting a Cambodia visa; before entry or on arrival.

You can apply for a Cambodian visa via the Cambodian government’s website. A visa costs $30 plus a $6 processing fee per visa; it takes between three and seven days for your application to be processed.

The Cambodian government has also reinstalled the Visa On Arrival service for all international travellers. However, foreign nationals are not guaranteed a visa on arrival as the government reserves the right to deny entry to individuals that do not meet all the Cambodian visa requirements.

Check out our 13 Top Tips for Travelling Cambodia in 2022 for more information on getting a Cambodian visa in both instances.

Is two weeks enough to see Cambodia?

Yes! While we spent a whole month in Cambodia, most people we met on our travels were only there for a couple of weeks!

You may miss out on a couple of stops throughout the country but two weeks will definitely give you enough time to see the absolute highlights!

Things you should know about Cambodia:

Out of all the 195 countries in the world, it is the only flag to feature a building.
The US Dollar is the unofficial second currency of Cambodia.
2 million Cambodians were killed during the country’s civil war from 1975 to 1979.
Subsequently, roughly 50% of the population is under 15 years of age.
Cambodia is one of the very few countries that doesn’t have a McDonald’s. Whilst KFC is present in Cambodia, it actually loses money being here.
There are estimated to be nearly 6 million active landmines in the country, leftover from the civil war. As many as 30 people die a year as a result.
Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious building.
Khmer is the only official spoken language in Cambodia.

The Route for your Perfect Two Weeks in Cambodia

The time recommended at each stop below is just that, recommended. It’s based on our own experience of having visited Cambodia in 2022 and we want to help you maximise your stay in Cambodia. Whilst we visited Cambodia for 30 days, the recommended stay length is based on the activities you should do in each place. The total number of days below does not equate to 14 days; this will allow you to stay longer a day or two longer in places you particularly enjoy.

Starting Point: Phnom Penh

How to get to Phnom Penh

If you are planning on travelling around Cambodia, it is likely you will start in Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh is incredibly easy to fly into as it has great links with other Southeast Asian cities (Bangkok and Seoul).

It is also very easy to get the trans-border bus directly to Phnom Penh from Vietnam and Saigon.
Buses also run from Thailand to Phnom Penh but they can take 16 hours. Check out our onward travel section below about visiting Battambang and Siem Reap along the way.

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the ideal first spot for anyone who hasn’t been to Cambodia before. The capital has both developed and poorer areas, allowing you to get to grips with how different Cambodians live.

We thoroughly enjoyed the range of cuisines on offer; meeting loads of people; and the Central Market.

There are also many activities to do whilst in the capital. If you’re here for two days, we’d recommend visiting Cambodia’s Killing Fields at Choeung Ek and the S21 Museum on one day; then some markets and temples on your final day.

How long to stay in Phnom Penh: 2 days

Getting around: Walking or tuktuk (grab)

Where to stay:

Must Do’s:

S21 Museum
Sunset at Juniper Gin Bar
Central market

Check out our in-depth Phnom Penh Travel Guide for more information about what to do, where to eat, and where to stay.

Stop 2: Battambang

How to get to Battambang from Phnom Penh

We’d recommend taking the bus from Phnom Penh to Battambang as it is the cheapest and quickest way. Prices range from $9-$13 per person and the travel time is roughly 6-7 hours

Departure times are normally: 7am; 7:30am; 8am; 8:30am; 9am; 12:15pm; 1:30pm; 2pm & 9pm.

Battambang

Surprisingly one of our most enjoyable locations in the whole of Cambodia.

We absolutely loved the chilled atmosphere here. It also gave us a well-needed chance to relax after a couple of non-stop weeks.

Despite the city lacking the notoriety that other Cambodian cities possess; it is still full of beautiful cafes and amazing eateries that you MUST check out.

How long to stay in Battambang: 1 day

Getting around: Bike or by booking a tour

Where to stay in Battambang:

Must Do’s in Battambang:

Bamboo Train
Bat Caves
Phare Battambang

Check out our in-depth Battambang Travel Guide for more information about what to do, where to eat, and where to stay.

Stop 3: Siem Reap

How to get to Siem Reap from Battambang:

We’d recommend taking the bus from Battambang to Siem Reap as it is the cheapest and quickest way.

Prices range from $8-$10 per person and travel time is roughly 4 hours

Departure times are normally: 9am; 12pm & 6pm.

Siem Reap

Siem Reap, more commonly known as the gateway to Angkor Wat, is one the most beautiful places you can visit in the world, let alone Cambodia. The city itself is always bustling and has loads of great eateries, bars, and places to soak up true Cambodian culture.

Apart from having some regrets about our accommodation, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here.

It ended up getting quite hot so it was pleasing that the city’s other main attractions were all within walking distance as well as some incredible cafes and restaurants that were ideal for people watching.

How long to stay in Siem Reap: 2 days

Getting around: Walking

Where to stay in Siem Reap:

$ – Onederz
$$ – Lub d
$$$ – Treeline Urban Resort

Must Do’s in Siem Reap:

Angkor Wat and tomb raider temple
Pub Street
Night Market

Check out our in-depth Siem Reap Travel Guide for more information about what to do, where to eat and where to stay.

Stop 4: Koh Rong Island

How to get to Koh Rong from Siem Reap:

This is not as easy as the other routes, so we dedicated a whole separate post which you can check out. However, in order to get the ferry from Sihanoukville, we’d recommend taking the overnight bus from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville as it is the cheapest and quickest method.

Prices range from $15-$18 per person.

Travel time is roughly 10 hours.

Departure times are normally 8pm which means you’ll arrive in Sihanoukville at 6am. Visit the above link to know what to do when you’re in Sihanoukville.

Koh Rong

Koh Rong is absolutely beautiful with its crystal clear sea and white sand.

Whilst it is known for being more of a “late-night” island than Sanloem, Koh Rong still has endless beaches to relax on.

For backpackers, the main ”party” place is Nest Beach Club; the island’s only hostel. Nest has an official ”Nestival” party every Saturday but any night can turn into a party and it’s a great place to meet people.

The main activities on Koh Rong are partying and relaxing on its beautiful beaches; definitely try and visit over the weekend if you wish to experience “Nestival”.

How long to stay on Koh Rong: 2 days

Getting around: Walking

Where to stay on Koh Rong:

Must Do’s on Koh Rong:

Nestival
Fishing tour
Relaxing

Check out our in-depth Koh Rong Island Travel Guide for more information about what to do, where to eat, and where to stay.

Stop 5: Koh Rong Sanloem

How to get to Koh Rong Sanloem from Koh Rong:

We dedicated a whole post to getting between the Koh Rong islands, which you can check out here.

Koh Rong Sanloem

In comparison to Koh Rong, Sanloem is definitely the more “chilled out” of the two and you’ll instantly get this vibe when walking along the beachfront.

You can easily spend nearly a week here to decompress and chill out after a long travel day/night.

Whilst it wasn’t luxury, Onerderz Hostel was all we needed (inc hot showers) and was well priced. Conversely, there are many resort hotels you can check into if you want to treat yourself!

In a similar fashion to Koh Rong, the main activities are merely just relaxing on the white sandy beach; unless you fancy a spot of fishing or jet skiing!

How long to stay on Koh Rong Sanloem: 2 days

Getting around: Walking or kayaking

Where to stay on Koh Rong Sanloem:

Must Do’s on Koh Rong Sanloem:

Relaxing
Bioluminescence plankton
Sunset boat trip

Check out our in-depth Koh Rong Island Travel Guide for more information about what to do, where to eat, and where to stay.

Stop 6: Kampot

How to get Kampot from Koh Rong Sanloem:

To know how to get back to Sihanoukville from the Islands, check out our easy guide HERE.

Whilst there is a road to Kampot from Sihanoukville, half of the road there is of very poor quality meaning that bus companies aren’t operating between the two cities at all.

This means that the quickest option is hiring a taxi. You can choose to get a bus from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh and then another to Kampot but the journey time will be roughly 10 hours. On top of this, the price will almost certainly be $20pp; thus, the cost and length of the journey probably make this route unfeasible.

The journey took us roughly three hours and I can vouch that the roads were very bad in places!

Kampot

We found that Kampot had a very similar atmosphere to Battambang with its laid-back attitude and cute cafes; no wonder we enjoyed it here so much!

Kampot has a great backpacker vibe with some awesome hostels and great bars and nightlife scattered around.

When you visit Kampot, spending one day at the Preah Monivong Bokor National Park is an absolute must, as is another at the Arcadia Backpackers Waterpark. You’ll also have the evenings the explore the Bokor Night Market and visit some great eateries.

How long to stay in Kampot: 2 days

Getting around Kampot: Bike or tuktuk

Where to stay in Kampot:

Must Do’s in Kampot:

Arcadia Waterpark
Bokor National Park
Night Market

Check out our in-depth Kampot Travel Guide for more information about what to do, where to eat and where to stay.

Last stop: Phnom Penh

How to get to Phnom Penh from Kampot:

We’d recommend taking the bus from Kampot to Phnom Penh as numerous bus companies operate this journey.

Prices range from $6-$8 per person.

Travel time is roughly 3-3.5 hours

Departure times are normally: 7am; 7:30am; 8am; 8:30am; 9:15am; 9:30am; 10:30am; 12pm; 12:30pm; 1:30pm; 1:45pm; 2pm; 2:30pm; 3:30pm; 4pm; 4:30pm; 4:45pm; 5pm; 5:45pm & 6pm.

Recommended stay: 0-1 day

Having now visited all the must-see locations in Cambodia, you now return to Phnom Penh before travelling to your next destination.

You can choose to spend the afternoon mopping up anything you missed on your previous visit and travel the following day.

Similarly, you can choose this time to relax after a hectic two weeks and catch up on some sleep before your next adventure. As a result, this may be an ideal time to stay in a comfortable hotel if, like us, your social battery dies. Conversely, this could be your last ever night out in Cambodia so why not enjoy it?!

If you are limited on time and money, you could choose to leave Kampot early and travel to your next destination on the same day.

Onward Travel:

As a result of each respective government’s Covid-19 containment strategy, land borders between Cambodia and Thailand, Vietnam & Laos have been closed. That has meant the only way in and out of the country has been by plane at the heavily controlled Phnom Penh airport. Cambodia’s borders with Thailand and Laos are still currently close (as of March 2022) but there have been recent murmurings that these land borders will open in the near future so watch this space.

Conversely, the Cambodia-Vietnam border has recently opened but securing a Vietnam visa at the border has been particularly difficult for some foreign nationals. Buses are now running between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City; just be wary of being scammed as guards are working with bus drivers to coax foreigners out of more money just to have their passports returned.

Obviously, the route out of Cambodia depends entirely on your arrival and departure locations which, in turn, are impacted by the land border situation. If you’re entering from Thailand, we’d recommend starting in Battambang before ending in Phnom Penh; from here you can then fly or take the bus to Vietnam. Conversely, if you’re arriving from Vietnam and then heading into Thailand, due to the closed Cambodia-Thailand land border, we’d recommend following the route above. You can then fly from Phnom Penh to your destination in Thailand.

Do you want to spend more time in Cambodia? Why not check out our Perfect Month Itinerary for Cambodia in 2022 so you can feel you’ve experienced true Cambodia?

There you have it, The Perfect Two Weeks in Cambodia; outlining where you need to visit and how long to stay in each place. Make sure to let us know what you think of our recommendations in the comments below!

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Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, is the best products possible whilst travelling.